CLIO, MI -- School leaders got an earful from residents Wednesday, June 18, during a public gathering at Clio High School about a proposal to close the district's Olympic-sized pool.

The meeting was held after talk of remodeling or closing the pool has been rekindled during the current budget process, as the district faces a roughly $1.5 million budget hole and teacher layoffs.

Patrick Jones, the district's facilities and transportation director, said the pool has been closed for two years and would need comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act, including a lift and two access points.

"The rough estimate to bring the pool up to compliance would be $1 million, $1.1 million," he told the crowd of around one dozen residents, all of whom voiced their support for keeping the pool open.

Jones said the mechanical parts, ceiling and drains would all need to be repaired, showing the problems during a tour of the facility with high school Principal Mike Lytle.

Drains have been covered inside the pool area, with some tiles around the edge disjointed and ceiling tiles high above the water out of place and missing in some areas.

A pond pump is being used to make sure water does not sit stagnant and chemicals are used to make sure the six-lane pool does not become overrun with bacteria, a cost of roughly $25,000 to $30,000 a year.

Audience members asked if the pool could be used by other districts in the area and the public.

"You are never going to break even, you are never going to recover your costs," said Jones, noting with the pool would cost anywhere between $125,000 and $150,000 a year to maintain. Another idea floated has been to fill in the pool for $50,000 and construct a new gym space.

To make the necessary repairs, Jones said the district would have to use around two years' worth of sinking fund dollars, money that would delay other projects at buildings such as boiler repairs, as well as figuring out long-term financing.

"If we do choose to keep it, how do we pay for it? And how do we maintain it?" he said. Some residents asked if a bond could be taken out for the work, but Superintendent Fletcher Spears III said, "I'm not sure if the community is ready to support a bond or funds for a pool."

Tasked with some difficult times in the district, Spears said, "My financial reality is tomorrow morning I have to tell teachers I've got to lay you off because we can't afford you anymore" and he was not keen on moving forward with the pool if it was at the detriment of teaching positions.

While one crowd member argued the pool was needed to attract students to the district, Spears -- who moved to close the pool two years ago -- said, "We are going to start a very aggressive marketing campaign, but more focused on education" including a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math program.

Resident Shari Goddard, a former water aerobics instructor at the pool for more than 13 years, said she never felt the pool was correctly marketed in the community.

"The school seemed to be working against us," she said of scheduling and information to the public. "Some people in the area didn't even know we had a pool."

Jones said he appreciated the input and the district would work to have more people aware of upcoming meetings and continue taking comments from online and paper surveys about the pool before any decision is made.

Computer terminals were provided in the high school media center for those in attendance to fill out the survey online and handouts provided for residents.

"I just wanted to make sure we got the community involved," said Jones, not expecting a decision to come before summer's end.